Much of Lithia's housing stock has been built since the late 1990s, centered on the master-planned FishHawk Ranch community developed by Newland Communities. FishHawk Ranch was recognized as Hillsborough County's first certified green community, and its homes range from townhomes and villas to larger single-family residences arranged around a network of amenity centers, pools, and more than 25 miles of trails. The gated Encore at FishHawk Ranch offers an active-adult, 55-and-older neighborhood within the larger community. Beyond FishHawk Ranch, the surrounding Lithia area includes larger-lot and acreage properties along roads such as County Road 39, preserving a more rural character.

FishHawk Ranch is the centerpiece of Lithia, a master-planned community divided into distinct villages with their own pools, playgrounds, and trail connections. FishHawk Ranch West extends the community's newer phases, while Encore at FishHawk Ranch provides a gated 55-and-older neighborhood built by David Weekley Homes. Away from the master plan, the broader Lithia area includes established subdivisions and semi-rural acreage along the Alafia River corridor and County Road 39, offering a quieter, more spacious alternative to the planned community core.

Daily life in Lithia revolves around the family-friendly amenities of FishHawk Ranch. Park Square serves as the community's gathering place, with an interactive fountain, shops, casual restaurants, a YMCA, and an outdoor amphitheater that hosts events and concerts. The trail system links homes to schools, shopping, and parks, encouraging walking and biking. The community's green-community certification and emphasis on preserved open space give Lithia a distinctly outdoorsy, suburban character, while Brandon and Tampa supply larger retail, dining, and entertainment options a short drive away.

Lithia is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, one of the largest districts in Florida. Local campuses include Newsome High School, which offers a broad Advanced Placement program, along with well-regarded elementary schools such as Bevis, Fishhawk Creek, and Stowers. The presence of newer school facilities near the FishHawk Ranch neighborhoods is a key factor for families relocating to the area, and private and charter options are available in nearby Brandon and Valrico.

Lithia sits about 21 miles southeast of downtown Tampa, with Brandon — the closest major retail and employment hub — roughly 13 miles away. County Road 39 provides the main north-south route through the community, while State Road 60 and Interstate 75, accessed near Brandon, connect residents to Tampa, MacDill Air Force Base, and the wider region. Within FishHawk Ranch, the FishHawk Boulevard Trail and an extensive internal path network let residents reach shops, schools, and parks without a car.

Alafia River State Park anchors outdoor recreation in Lithia, offering more than 17 miles of mountain-biking trails — among the best in Florida — plus hiking, equestrian, and paddling access along the Alafia River. Within FishHawk Ranch, residents have use of more than 25 miles of trails, resort-style pools, playgrounds, and a YMCA at Park Square. The Alafia River itself provides kayaking and fishing opportunities, and the larger Tampa Bay area's Gulf beaches and parks lie within an easy drive.